GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Long a critic of cultural activities sponsored by Grand Rapids Community College, trustee Richard Ryskamp says administrators should more thoroughly monitor whether the college's policy of academic freedom is being followed.

Speaking at a recent board of trustees meeting, Ryskamp, an intensive care physician who was elected to the board in 2009, urged administrators to present evidence that speakers invited to the college present students with a wide-range of opinions on controversial issues.

“The next time we get this report, I think it would be good if the report could mention at least one controversial issue on which students have been exposed to more than one opinion, more than one perspective,” Ryskamp said.

His remarks came after administrators presented trustees with a report detailing the college’s compliance with its academic freedom policy.

The report listed numerous events, such as the “Race and Ethnicity Conference” and the
“Diversity Lecture Series” as examples of the activities that provide “the opportunity for expression of a broad range of views and values.”

Ryskamp also asked administrators to define what the college considers ignorance and bigotry. He said a newsletter from the college has stated such opinions are not tolerated at the college.

“Who is it here at GRCC who defines what opinions are to be labeled truth and what opinions are to be labeled ignorance,” Ryskamp said. “Who is it here who defines what opinions are to be labeled enlightenment and what opinions are to be labeled bigotry? What happens to someone here who is discovered to hold opinions that are considered ignorant or bigoted?”

GRCC's Academic Freedom Policy

• Protect academic freedom while recognizing community standards; preventing the extremes of either “freedom” or “community”

• Allow for community input

• Protect the liberal arts mission by providing the opportunity for expression of a broad range of views and values through various mediums/venues

• Promote questioning, reflection, discourse and debate

• Purposely invite speakers who espouse a range of opinion

• Engage in a variety of partnerships and other agreements to provide students with a diverse educational experience

• Encourage and allow faculty members to discuss their subject matter with their students in free and open dialogue

• Protect the students, employees, citizens, and the College from situations that could create an unsafe or disruptive learning environment

Trustee Bert Bleke, responding to Ryskamp’s remarks, said he believes the academic freedom policy requires that the college has “a balanced approach and an open mind.”

“That’s what we as the board of trustees need to be following from my perspective,” he said.

Ryskamp has a history of questioning cultural activities at the college and has questioned the choice of speakers at the college.

In 2009, for example, he criticized the college for choosing Black Panther Angela Davis as a speaker for the GRCC Diversity Lecture Series.

Ryskamp said his fear of academic freedom being violated at GRCC may be unfounded.
Still, he thinks it’s important to have the policy more closely monitored and clearly defined.

“There are many other institutions of public higher education where administrators, faculty or students have experienced reprisals, even being fired or expelled, for expressing or holding unpopular opinions that someone else thought were ignorant or bigoted,” he said.